Toothbrush retainer



Oct. 5, 1943. B. OSHMAN ETAL TOOTHBRUSH RETAINER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 IN V EN TORS Benjamin Oslzman,

Jsep]: OsJzman,

BYv

Application August 2,1940, Serial No. 349,606

2 Claims. (c1.20e, '15.1 1

in Fig. 3, to. permit the ready and withdrawal of the tooth brush- This invention relates to a tooth brush retainer, and its objects are to retain the brush efiiciently in convenient location, to maintain it clean, dustproof, sanitary, and out of contact with other articles, and to provide improved means for its rapid, ready, and convenient withdrawal from the container and reinsertion thereinto.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter app ar. a t 3 In the accompanying drawing, I

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the tooth brush and container therefor of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the tooth brush container'shown in Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tooth brushretainer shown in Fig.1, as it appears during the insertion and withdrawal or the tooth brush.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tooth brush retainer shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively a longitudinal cross-sectional plan View and an elevation of a Y modification of the invention.

Figs. 7, 8, are respectively a plan view and an elevation of another modification of the invention.

The tooth brush retainer l,Figs.;1-4, comprises an elongated receptacle 2 consisting of two traylike half members 3, 4, held to each other by a to a closed state, as shown in Fig." l, or theymay hinge 5, whereby saidmembers may be disposed be swung about said hinge to an open position,

as illustrated in Fig. 3. A leaf spring 6 secured to the members 3, 4 at 'l and having a pair of wings 8 presses with said wings against the sides-of f said members to normally maintain them in the closed state shown in Fig. 1. Each of the mem bers 3, 4 is provided at the end opposite to the hinge 5 with an opposed cam 9 having inclined. surfaces H), H, and the tooth brush I! to be used with thisretainer is provided with a portion l3 at the junction of its handle I 4 and brush head I5, the sides of which portion are'configurated similarly to the cams 9.

When thetooth brush I2 is to be inserted into the receptacle 2 for retention, the leading end l6 of brush head l5 strikes the cam surfaces l0 and thereby actuates the members 3, 4 to swing open as illustrated inFig. 3 and permitsthe brush to enter completely into the retainer, whereupon the springs 8 close the receptacle, with the cams 9 inregistry with the brush portion l3. When the tooth brush I2 is to be removed from the I retainer, the inclined sides I! of portion 13 bear against the cam surfaces H, and thereby similarly open the receptacle members 3, 4, as shown convenient According to the modifications shown in Figs.

5, 6, the receptacle 2a co'mprisingthe retainer .isj of one piece, having a closed end I8 and an open oppositeend provided with flexible door shutters J9. lhe brush handle I4 has its portion 13 con i figura'ted similarly tothat shown in Fig.1,andg; to the side-Walls 20. of receptacle 2a are secured 1 opposed leaf springs 2|, thatnormally register with the sides of brush portion. l3. Whenthe" tooth brush is inserted into the receptacle 2a for retention, its bristles 22'open the shutters l9 to permit ingress and its end I6 spreads apart the springs 2| until the brush enters'completely into the retainer, whereupon the' springs 21 realign themselves to their normal form in registry with 1 the toothbrush portion I3 to lock it in retained place and the shutters [9 spring back to closedposition, as shown. Upon removal of the tooth brush, the opposite action ocurs with respect to] ;the springs 2| and shutters l9, to permit the. ready and convenient withdrawal of the tooth brush. r p

In modifications shown in'Figs. 7, 8, the receptacle 2b of the retainer issimilar to that shown in Fig. 5,and to its open end 23 are hinged at 24 cooperating cams 25 that are similar to the cams 9, of Fig. 1, and have integral therewith floor.-

ings 26 meeting each'otherat 21. Leaf springs 28 secured at 29 to thereceptacle walls normally bear against the cams 25 and press the floorings' 26 against each other at 21 under tension. From .the foregoing descriptions it will be evidentthat inserting the tooth brush l2 'into the receptacle 211 for retention will spreadthe cams 25 apart;

to permit its ingress, and the springs will restore said cams to locked engagement with the 1 brush portion I3, the shutters l9 closing up the receptacle 22). Upon withdrawal of the toothbrush from the container, the opposite action occurs in the manner illustrated and described in connection with the retainers shown in Figs.

1, 5. v Variations may be resorted to within the scope of. the invention, andporti'ons of the improvements may be used without others. j Having thus described our invention,we claim) 1. Atooth brush retainer having the combination of 'an elongated receptacle open at one end' for entrance and adapted to receive a brush-head when it is moved thereintolongitudinally through said open end, a pair of cam-shaped members for retaining said brush-head within the receptacle each being hinged to said open end of said receptacle to swing toward and away from each other, spring means normally impelling said members toward each other, said brush-head having a terminal and narrowed base, said members adapted to be actuated away from each other by said terminal of the brush-head to permit insertion of the brush-head into said receptacle and to then return into said narrowed base, and said narrowed base spreading said members apart during removal of the brush-head from the receptacle.

2. A tooth brush and retainer therefor comprising a receptacle open at one end for entrance retaining said brush-head within the receptacle each being hinged to said open end of said receptacle to swing toward and away from each other, spring means normally impelling said members toward each other, said brush-head having a terminal, said members adapted to be actuated away from each other by said terminal to permit insertion of the brush head into said receptacle, and said brush-head being configurated at its base to conform to said members when contained'within the receptacle and to spread said members apart during removal from the receptacle.

BENJAMIN OSHMAN.

JOSEPH OSHMAN.

said open end, a pair of cam-shaped members for 

